Filmmaker Joecar Hanna, born in Valencia in 1991, has presented for the first time in his hometown the two short films that have earned him international recognition. With 'Talk me', Hanna has won awards such as the Silver Biznaga at the Málaga Film Festival and the Best Short Film award at the Toronto Festival. He is currently in Paris as part of 'La Residénce' at the Cannes Film Festival, a prestigious program for script development where he is working on his next feature film with filmmaker Isabel Coixet as his mentor.
Hanna, who has temporarily moved from New York to Paris, reflects on how maturity allows him to enjoy his successes. "If I had lived all this at 20, I would be an arrogant jerk," he states. The short film 'Talk me', shot under the guidance of Spike Lee in New York, premiered in Valencia at the Cinema Jove festival to a full house.
During his stay in Valencia, Hanna is taking a break from his work at Cannes' 'La Residénce', where only six international filmmakers are selected annually. There, alongside Coixet, he is expanding 'Talk me' into a feature film, a process similar to what he has already done with 'Deliver me', which will also become a film starting in September.
Regarding his connection to Valencia, Hanna expresses his longing for horchata and highlights his sense of belonging to the city. "Valencia is a special place, a paradise that outsiders still don't quite believe," he comments. His perspective on the city, marked by nostalgia, is reflected in the beauty with which he has captured the light and urban details in 'Talk me'.
About his experience in Paris, Hanna describes 'La Residénce' as a place where "Cannes really happens" before the festival, a hub for international cinema. Although he initially found the city strange, he now considers it a potential place to live. The daily life at the residence is described as "living a dream," with spacious rooms and support for writing, as well as connections with mentors like Isabel Coixet.
The script development process for 'Talk Me' with Coixet is currently in its third version, with the confidence of the Cannes institution in the creative process. Hanna believes his short films have helped him establish a unique voice and build the trust needed to tackle more ambitious projects.
His next project, 'Deliver Me', set to begin filming in September in New York, explores the complexities of romantic relationships and the pursuit of self-destruction or relationship building. The shoot, planned for one month, aims to complete post-production in time for a potential presentation at Cannes, a festival that values the intrinsic quality of the works.
Hanna also shared his surprise at the varied reception of 'Talk me' across different cultures, from its success in Toronto and Austin to a cooler reaction in Cannes, and a positive reception in Valencia. He approaches international recognition with maturity, learning to manage pressures and appreciate surreal situations, such as receiving a rejection for Venice without significant impact.
His future stories will focus on what he calls "mini-fundamentalisms" or everyday "micro-beliefs" – the quirks and obsessions that define people – exploring the clashes and contradictions that arise from these individual beliefs.
